On Thursday, May 21, 2009, Prof. Wangari Maathai was awarded Japan’s highest honor—the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun for her work promoting the
Mottainai Campaign. The ceremony took place at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Nairobi, Kenya. It was wonderful to have an award of this caliber bestowed in Kenya so that GBM and friends could attend. So few of Prof’s awards have been given in Kenya and so it was special to have this one presented to her at home among friends.
The Japanese government granted her this award in recognition of her contribution to protecting the environment, raising the Japanese people’s awareness of environmental issues and in promoting Japanese environmental initiatives around the world. Prof played an immense role in the promotion of Japan’s environmental diplomacy through various activities, but in particular through the promotion of the
Mottainai Campaign. She also was recognized for her involvement in the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development in May 2008.
Watch Professor Maathai speak about
Mottainai!
Prof Maathai first learnt about the Japanese concept of
Mottainai during an interview with the senior editor of Mainichi Newspapers in 2005. This concept wonderfully articulated the idea of not wasting resources and using them with gratitude and respect. The message has been very well received by the Japanese public even as it continues to grow and expand around the world. In Japan, all sectors of society are involved in the campaign including: children, women’s organizations, politicians, musicians, corporations, teachers, media and financial institutions. The
Mottainai concept also ties in well with the well known 3R campaign of Reuse, Reduce and Recycle.
In Kenya, GBM also adopted the
Mottainai campaign around the elimination of waste plastic from the natural environment. Prof saw the linkage between the concept of
Mottainai and the eyesore caused when plastic waste litters public spaces everywhere. Today, the GBM campaign in Kenya is growing and has been responsible for influencing policy changes around the production and use of very thin plastic materials. With climate change now at the top of most global agendas, the
Mottainai Campaign has the opportunity to share a unique new message with the rest of the world.
It was interesting to hear the comments to newspaper articles that were published the day after Prof’s award was announced. It may have come as a surprise that Prof is so popular in Japan! One reader recalled a conversation he had with his professors in Japan who he said often have two questions for Kenyans they meet – “Who is the president of Kenya?” and “Do you know Wangari Maathai?”... I guess the Ambassador was right when he remarked at the ceremony that, “She is quite popular among the Japanese.” Arigato to the people of Japan for this amazing honor given to our Founder.
Read more about Professor Maathai’s work on the
Mottainai Campaign!